Nicholas ratchford and clark harper



Patented-July 22,1890,

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N. RATGHPORD & G. HARPER.

STEAM ENGINE WITNESSES:

(No Model.)

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS RATCHFORD AND CLARK HARPER, OF PLAIN CITY, OHIO; SAID HARPER ASSIGNOR TO SAID OF SAME PLACE.

RATCHFORD AND EDWARD M. FIEBIGER,

STEAM -ENG I N E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 432,677, dated July 22, 1890. Application filed January 6, 189 I]: Serial No. 336,026. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, N ICHOLAS RATCHFORD and CLARK HARPER, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Plain City, in the county of Madison and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the improvement of steam-engines, and the objects of our improvement are to provide an engine of this class which shall be simple of construction, and by means of which high speed and power can be attained, to prevent a wasteof power I 5 and loss of motion, and to produce said engine in a durable and reliable form. These objects we accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a central transverse section. Fig. 2 is a sectional View at right angleswith Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and i are respectively opposite end views.

Similar letters refer to similar part-s throughout the several views.

A represents the cylinder-casing of our improved engine, the main portion of which consists, as shown, approximately of two parallel cylinders Z) I), said cylinders being joined and having theirinteriors communicating laterally. As shown in the drawings, the cylininder b is of a diameter somewhat less than the cylinder Z).

0 represents a third cylindrical portion,

which, being formed with the cylinder-casing A, is located above and slightly to one side of the center thereof.

The casing A, as shown in the drawings, is

. provided with a suitable base or support B.

The body formed by the casingA is closed at its ends by end plates C.

Supported centrally within the cylinder Z) is a shaft cl, the diameter of which is some what less than the diameter of the cylindrical chamber of said cylinder Z). This shaft (Z is of such length as to cause its ends to come into frictional contact with or in close proximity to the end plates 0, and has each of its ends provided with a journal f,which, extending outwardly, passes through an opening in the plate C and rests in boxing F, more fully hereinafter described. Projecting longitudinally from the periphery of the shaft (Z is a lug or piston d, which corresponds in length with the length of the shaft and which ex- 5 tends sufficiently outward therefrom to meet and form a steam-tight joint with the inner wall of the cylinder 6.

Supported within the cylinder Z) is a shaft g, which, in dimension and manner of sup- 6 port, corresponds with the shaft d, and which, as described for said shaft 61, has its outward.- ly-extending journal g bearing in the boxes F, which corresponds in form with the boxing F. The diameterof the chamber of the 6 cylinder 1) being less than that of the cylinder 1), the periphery of the shaft g is brought into close proximity with the inner wall of its cylinder and is made to form a steam-tight connection therewith by means of inwardly- 7i projecting longitudinal ribs 12 formed on the inner wall of the cylinder 1); Formed in the periphery of the shaftg is a longitudinal groove or piston-way 71,,whichextends throughout the length of the shaft and which is of such depth as to receive the projecting portion of the piston d. The body of the shaft 9 project-s sufficiently within the chamber of the cylinder Z) to cause the contact of the peripheries of the two shafts. 7

One of the outer ends of each of the journals f and g 011 the outer side of the boxing has mounted thereon a gear-wheel, which we will indicate, respectively, by the reference letters f" and g Formed in the bottom of the casing A, between the two cylinders, is a steam outlet or port a.

As shown in the drawings in dotted lines, we may provide the ends of the shafts with the ordinary form of steam-packing ring is.

Formed in the inner wall of the upper and smaller cylinder 0 is a depression m, which forms, as shown, a circular offset. This offset m and the chamber of the cylinder 0 is 5 made to communicate with the chamber of the cylinder 7) by a port a.

Fitting and adapted to be made to revolve within the cylinderc (which we will term the valve-cylinder is a valve plug or roller m. IO

This Valve-roller is provided on its periphery at the center of its length with a peripherical depression or pocket m-,opposite and of a width equal to that of the offset m. The space within the offset 111, immediately about the entrance to the port 12, is built up flush with the su rface of the inner wall of the valvecylinder. The steam-supply pipe Z enters the central port-ion of the offset m and valve-cylinder at a point preferably in the upper side of said valve-cylinder.

Steam-packing rings 19 may be made to encircle the valve-roller m,if desired. Extending outwardly from the center of one end of the plug m, through the end plate 0, is a shaft or journal g, which carries on its outer end a gear-wheel (1, which is of an equal size and gears with the gear-wheel g of the shaft g, which, as shown, is on the corresponding side end of the engine.

The boXingFFeach consists of a suitable standard '1, which rigidly supports a metallic sleeve 8, which is square in cross-section. Through each wall of this sleeve extends inwardly, through screw-holes formed therein, two or more set-screws s. The set-screws of the lower half of the sleeve bear against and support the lower half boxing-plate '6', while the upper set-screws similarly clamp against theupper half boxing-plate If. These boxing-plates embrace the journal in the usual manner.

The operation of my device is as follows: The steam from the supply-pipe enters the cylinder 0 and fills the central enlargement thereof and the depression m The plug be ing then turn ed until the pocket or depression communicates with the valve or port at, the consequent discharge of steam through the porta into the cylinder 1) will result in such pressure upon the piston d as to impartrotary motion to the shaft d. This motion of the shaft (Z, through its gear-wheel f, is communicated to gear-wheels q and g and through the former to the valve-plug m, through the shaft q. The volume of steam heretofore described as entering the cylinder b, having forced the piston past the port 2, is allowed to escape through said port 1'. The momentum of the shaft d, imparted as above described, is suliicient to bring the piston again to its original positionthat is, slightly past the port nwhere it is ready to receive the steam from the valve above, as hereinbefore described. The shafts d and gare so set with relation to each other as to cause the groove h of the latter to meet and receive the piston of the former d uringthe contact of those portions of the shafts, thus preventing the latter from proving an obstruction.

Belt-wheels for transmitting power may be mounted upon the outer ends of either or both of the shaftsf an'dg', Y

The gear-wheels herein mentioned are, as shown, of equal size, thus creating uniformity and steadiness of motion.

From the description herein given it will be seen that the movement of the piston is continuous in one direction, and that the loss of motion is comparatively slight.

The engine herein described is not of complicated or expensive construction, and the peculiar method of introducing steam into the cylinder prevents an excessive use or waste of steam.

In case it is desired to adjust or change the position of the journals of the shafts b g, it may be readily accomplished by turning the desired sleeve set-screws, the inner ends of which bear against and support the boxing.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a steam-engine, the combination, with the laterally-communioating cylinders b and b, of shaft d, j ournaled within said cylinder 61 and provided, as described, with piston or lug cl, and having longitudinal groove h and outlet-port i, said cylinder 1) of the valve-cylinder 0, located as described, and having internal depression or enlargement m, valve-closing plug m, having shaft q and central steam-depression m port n, connecting, as described, the cylinders Z) and c, the gear-wheels g f, and q, mounted, respectively, upon the journals of the shafts (Z and g, and plug m, the wheels q and f andf and g gearing together, substantially as set forth.

NICHOLAS RATCI-IFORD. CLARK HARPER.

In presence of BARTON GRIFFITH, C. O. SHEPHERD. 

